Water-wheel governor.



.No. 781,966. PATENTEDFEB. 7, 1905.

' F. S. REPLOGLE.

WATER WHEEL GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14. 1904.

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P z -b W No. 781,966. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

v F. s. REPLOGLE.

WATER WHEEL GOVERNOR.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 14. 1904.

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No. 781,966. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

P. S. REPLOGLE.

WATER WHEEL GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14. 1904.

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APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14. 1904.

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PATENT OEEIcE.

FRANK REPLOGLE, OF AKRON, OHIO.

WATER-WHEEL GOVERNOR- SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,966, dated February '7, 1905.

Application filed September 14, 1904. Serial No. 224,397.

To all LU/1,0772, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK S. RErLoeLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Water-Wheel Governors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide a very efficient speed -governor for waterwheels, turbines, and the like.

Hydraulic motors do not respond immediately in change of speed to an opening or closing of the gate, wherefore a speed-governor operating solely according to the speed of the motor would tend to continue the movement of opening or closing the gate farther than required, the result being that the motor would slow down or speed up more than desired. To overcome this, various complex mechanisms have been devised, which anticipate, as it were, the speed required, opening or closing the gate before the motor has come to the desired speed.

My invention provides a very simple and efficient form of governor to cause this action and one which will give close regulation for all loads on the motor. The absence of this last feature is one of the defects of many of the existing governors.

The invention can be most conveniently summarized as consisting of the combination of the parts to the above end, as hereinafter more fully described, and as definitely set out in the claims.

In the drawings, which fully disclose my invention, Figure l is a side elevation, partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical central crosssection. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section through the clutch and its operating mechanism. ernor complete. circuits.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents the main frame of the machine. J our- Fig. 5 is a diagram of the The governor, as hereinafter ex- Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the gov-- plained, operates to turn this shaft backward or forward, according to the speed changes, thus opening or closing the gate, as desired. Rising from the frame are standards a, in which is journaled a shaft C. This shaft has on its end a pulley c, which receives movement from a suitable source, as the hydranl ic motor. The shaft C is thus continuously rotated in one direction. Loosely mounted upon this shaft C is a pinion D, which meshes with a gear 6 on the shaft B. Rigid with the pinion D is a clutch-collar (Z, while on opposite ends of the structure thus provided are conical clutch members d and (V. The clutch member (Z is adapted to engage with a corresponding recess in the bevel-gear E, keyed to the shaft G. The clutch member (Z is adapted to engage a recess in the bevel-gear F, which is loose upon the shaft 0. This bevel-gear meshes with an idle bevel-gear I, which in turn meshes with the bevel-gear E. Therefore if the clutch member (Z and the gear E are in engagement the pinion D is rotated in the direction of rotation of the shaft C, while if the member cl engages the gear F the direction is the reverse. Thus the shifting of the collar (Z in one direction or the other governs the direction and extent of rotation of the shaft B. In its mid-position the clutch-collar d is out of engagement and the shaft B receives no rotation.

To shift the clutch-collar (Z, I provide a lever Gr, pivoted at g to a frame-bracket and yoking around and carrying pins projecting into a groove (Z in the clutch-collar. At its free end this lever is forked and carries a pair of soft-iron studs which project into openings in the solenoid H, and thus constitute armatures for that solenoid. The solenoid is preferably provided with a core it, having conical recesses in its ends. The armatures are correspondingly pointed, which arrangement enables the solenoid to have strong pulling power. The solenoid is transversely divided at its center, the winding on each side thereof being independent. From this it results that when an energized circuit is closed through either end of the solenoid the lever G is shifted accordingly, and the clutch-collar (I renders active the connection to the pinion 1), which thus rotates in one direction or the other. When the holding power of the solenoid ceases by reason of the circuit being broken. the incline of the clutching-cones is suflieient to cause the clutch-collar to at once work back to idle position.

To close a circuit through one end of the solenoid when the speed undulyincreases and through the other end when it decreases, 1 provide a centrifugal governor. The governor shown is of the Pickering type, consisting of a rotary head Z, from which rise flat springs l and carrying balls The head is geared to and rotated by a pulley L, which is suitably belted to the hydraulic motor to be governed. The springs Z are connected at their upper ends with a floating head Z from which rod Z leads downward through the support of the device. At its lower end this rod 7* is connected to a pivoted arm K, which is interrupted by an insulating-bushing l." and carries near its end an upper and lower contact member Z1. The contact member Z: is electrically connected with a wire leading to each of the solenoid-windings. Above the contact member 7': is a contact member a, and below the contact member Z: is a contact member a. A conductor leads from the contact member 1/ to one side of the solenoid and from the contact member a to the other side of the solenoid.

The result of the above construction is that as the speed increases the balls fly outward, and thus draw downward the floating head I", which moves downward the inner end of the arm Z, raising the outer end, whose contact K may thus engage the contact 72. This closes a circuit through that half of the solenoid whose operation is to shift the clutch-collar into position to cause such rotation of the pinion D as will move the gate of the waterwheel in the direction to close it. The closing of the gate soon decreases the speed of the motor, and this decreases the speed of the Pickering governor, the floating head of which rises, moving the contact Z: downward and opening the circuit to the solenoid, which thus releases the clutch-collar, disengaging the driving mechanism. If the speed unduly decreases, the rising of the floating head 6 brings the contact 1: into engagement with the contact a, and this closes a circuit through the other side of the solenoid, which shiftsthe clutch-collar to cause rotation of the pinion D in the direction to open the gate of the motor, Now asit takes the motor some time to respond in change of speed to the opening or closing of the gate, were no additional means provided for breaking the circuit the circuit would remain closed too long and the gate would be opened or closed too far, which would give too great a variation in the speed. 1 therefore provide mechanism to open the circuit of the solenoid before the Pickering governor would open it. This mechanism will not be described.

The contacts '11 and a are mounted on a pair of pivoted arms N and N. These arms have their ends extended between and engaging collars 7 and p on a shaft P, which is suitably carried by brackets mounted on the frame of the machine. At its lower end the shaft P is threaded into a sleeve P, which has at its lower end a toe 7). which takes into a spiral groove 7) in a disk 7f, rigid on the shaft B. Secured to the shaft P is a friction-wheel p which frictionally engages the face of a disk Q. This disk Q is continually rotated by suitable means, as the belt passing from the shaft 0 over the pulley (1 on a short shaft 1 to the end of which the disk Q is secured. The friction-wheel 2) normally contacts with the disk Q at its center, wherefore, this wheel receives no rotation from the continuous rotation of the disk. \Vhen, however, the Pickering governor closes a contact, as heretofore explained. the shaft B is caused to rotate in one direction or the other, and this rotates the disk U, which results in moving upward or downward the sleeve P. This raises or lowers the rod y), and thus removes the contact a orn from the contact Z, thereby breaking the circuit through the solenoid. This movement of the rod P, however, carries the wheel 1) off the center of the disk Q, which thus rotates the shaft P, screwing it into or out of the sleeve P. This raises or lowers the shaft, bringing thearm Nor the arm N, which was displaced thereby, back to normal position. The shaft P con'ies to rest as the wheel f comes opposite the center of the disk Q.

Suppose the speed of the hydraulic motor becomes too high and the Pickering governor thus closes the circuit, between the contact Zr and the contact in, energizing the left-hand half of the solenoid. This would shift the clutch-collar to the right, thus driving the pinion D in the direction of rotation of the shaft C, which we will suppose to be a lefthanded rotation, thus rotating the gear 0 in the direction to close the gate of the motor. This same movement rotates the scroll l) in the direction to lower the sleeve P, and this, through the collar 7) and the arm N, elevates the contact 1/, breaking the circuit between it and the contact The same movement brings the'whcel 1) onto the lower part of the disk Q, which disk rotating in the left-hand direction drives the shaft P in the left-hand direction, which screws it out of the sleeve P, (assuming that the threaded engagement is right handed.) This movement elevates the rod P to release the arm N and allow the contact 12 to come back to initial position. The operation would of course be just the reverse for a decrease in speed.

Fig. 5 shows the circuits. X is a common line running from the governor-arm K through the battery Z to both halves of the solenoid. X and are individual lines running from the contacts 72. and a to the left half and right half of the solenoid, respectively.

The-rod P operates but one of the arms N or I at a time and only in the direction to open the circuit. A suitable stop a limits the movement in the reverse direction, while a spring 77. tends to keep the arms against this stop. The result of this mechanism is that the contacts which control the solenoid either for increasing or decreasing the speed are opened by the rotation of the shaft B and independently of the Pickering governor and that the displaced contact member a or or comes back after a definite lapse of time to its normal position. By the time such contact-point has assumed its normal position the hydraulic motor will have responded in speed to the variation of the gate and the latter will be again under the control of the Pickering governor. I thus eleminate the fluctuation of speed which would result Were the gate to continue to open or close until the motor had come to the desired speed.

It is to be particularly noted that my anticipating mechanism displaces but one contact, so that the other contacta or a, as the case may be is left in proper position for engagement by the contact Z; when the arm K moves in the reverse direction. This is an important point, for if both contacts a and a, were depressed the circuit would be closed through the other side of the solenoid at an improper time.

I claim 1. In a water-wheel governor, the combination with supply-controlling mechanism, a speed-governor, a member operated by said speed-governor, a pair of independent devices adapted to be engaged by said member and adapted to actuate said supply-controlling mechanism whereby the Water-supply will be varied to produce a uniform speed, means for shifting either of said devices independently out of such engagement, and means for finally returning it to normal position.

2. In a Water-wheel governor,the combination with the gate-operating mechanism, of electrically-operated mechanism for controlling the same, a controller for said electricallyoperated mechanism, said controller including a plurality of contacts,a speed-governor adapted to move one of said contacts to make an electric circuit, a pair of independent members shiftably mounted and adapted to carry other contacts of said controller, and means controlled by the gate-operating mechanism for moving either of said members independently when its contact is engaged by the governor-controlled contact, whereby the-circuit is broken, and to finally return the member so moved to normal position.

3. In a water-wheel governor, in combination, gate-operating mechanism, electromagnetic mechanism for controlling the same, contacts and circuits for controlling the electromagnetic mechanism, a speed device for varying the position of one of said contacts, a pair of arms independently carrying the other contacts, and mechanism controlled by the gateoperating mechanism, for moving either arm independently.

4. In a water-wheel governor, in combination, gate-operating mechanism, electromagnetic mechanism for controlling the same, contacts and circuits for controlling the electromagnetic mechanism, a centrifugal device for varying the position of one of said contacts, a pair of arms independently carrying the other contacts, mechanism controlled by the gate-operating mechanism for moving either arm independently, stops limiting the approach, of said arms, and a spring tending to cause their approach.

5. In a water-wheel governor, in combination, gate-operating mechanism, electromagnetic mechanism for controlling the same, contacts and circuits for controlling the electromagnetic mechanism, a speed device for varying the position of one of said contacts, and mechanism actuated by the gate-operating mechanism for varying the position of another of said contacts and then bringing it back to normal position, said last-mentioned mechanism consisting of a rotatable scroll, a rod con nected to the same and operating to displace one of the contacts as it is raised or lowered, and means for thereafter automatically shortening or lengthening the effective portion of said rod, according tothe amount it is raised or lowered.

6. In a water-wheel governor, in combination, gate-operating mechanism, electromagnetic mechanism for controlling the same, contacts and circuits for controlling the electromagnetic mechanism, a speed device for varying the position of one of said contacts, and mechanism actuated by the gate-operating mechanism for varying the position of another of said contacts and then bringing it back to normal position, said last-mentioned mechanism consisting of a rotatable scroll, a rod connected to the same and operating to displace one contact or the other, as it is raised or lowered, a member into which said rod screws, and means for automatically screwing said rod into or out of said member to restore the position of such displaced contact.

7. In a water-wheel governor, in combination, gate-operating mechanism, speed-governed mechanism for controlling the same, a scroll rotatable by said gate-operating mechanism, a member engaging said scroll, a rod having screw-threaded connection with said member, a friction-wheel carried by said rod, a rotatable disk with the face of which said ITO wheel may engage, and mechanism controlled by said rod for varying the gate-operating mechanism before the hydraulic motor attains the desired speed.

8. In a water-wheel governor, in combination, gate-operating mechanism, electromagnetic mechanism for controlling the same, contacts and circuits for controlling the electromagnetic mechanism, a centrifugal device for varying the position of one of said contacts, and mechanism actuated by the gate operating mechanism for varying the position of another of said contacts and then bringing it back to normal position, a scroll rotatable by said gate-operating mechanism, a sleeve in engagement with said scroll, a rod screwthreaded into said sleeve, a friction -wheel carried by said rod, a rotatable disk with the face of which said wheel may engage, and mechanism between said rod and two of said contacts whereby the rod may independently change the position of either.

9. In a water-wheel governor, the combination of a double friction -elutch, a pinion adapted to be driven thereby in either direction, gate-operating mechanism geared to said pinion, a solenoid, a lever connected with the to be driven thereby in either direction, gateoperating mechanism geared to said pinion, a solenoid, a lever connected with the clutch and having cores projecting into the solenoid, contacts and circuits for said solenoid, a cent'rii'ugal device for varying the position of one oi said contacts, and mechanism operated by the gate-operating mechanism and adapted to temporarily displace one of said contacts which controls that side of the solenoid which is in action.

11. In a water-wheel governor, the combination of a frictioi'i-elutch, a pinion adapted to be driven thereby in either direction, gateoperating mechanism geared to said pinion, a solenoid having two independent windings, clutch-operating mechanism havingcores projecting into the solenoid, circuits for the two parts of said solenoid terminating in a common contact and two independent contacts, a speed device for varying the position of said common contact, and mechanism operated by the gate operating mechanism and adapted to temporarily displace that one of said independent contacts which controls that side of the solenoid which is in action.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

F tANK S. REPLOULIG. Witnesses:

ALBERT H. Barns, G. W. REARDON, 

